Dopamine pathways explain why companionship encourages risk-taking

Dopamine pathways explain why companionship encourages risk-taking

Having a companion nearby can make intimidating situations feel less daunting to mammals. New research in mice reveals the specific brain wiring responsible for this social boost in courage. Scientists found that social interaction shifts the firing patterns of dopamine producing neurons to dampen risk sensitivity and motivate exploration. The results were published in the journal Neuron. Exploration is a fundamental biological drive. Animals mu…